Dispatch staff urge Rosebud County to require payment at pickup after repeated unpaid scale fees

A dispatch staff member told the Rosebud County Board of Commissioners that an individual repeatedly avoided paying livestock-scale fees and used abusive language when picking up the scale key, and asked the board to adopt clearer enforcement so dispatch staff are not left to collect payments.

The staff member described the recurring problem and said attempts to collect payment after the fact are inconsistent because sign-out entries often lack phone numbers and animal counts. “I just don't feel like it's right for dispatch to be caught in the middle of it,” the staff member said, describing one incident in which the customer did not complete the required record and attempted to pay with a large bill the clerk could not change.

A commissioner suggested producing a laminated policy on commissioners' letterhead stating that payment is required when the key is picked up and that there will be no exceptions, so the public can see the rule. Participants discussed practical alternatives for customers, including carrying exact change, writing checks, or using an ATM in the lobby when available.

The staff member said the interaction was recorded in the office notes and the CAD system and that they would email commissioners with a tally of unpaid fees so the county can attempt collection. The board did not take a formal vote on a policy during the meeting but agreed to have staff provide the documented tally and consider posting a written payment procedure.

The issue arose during the public-comment portion of the meeting and was raised specifically so the commissioners could consider clearer enforcement and public notice before the busy shipping season.